Frequently Used Parliamentary Motions

This is taken from the National Association of Parliamentarians.

These are commonly used motions and not listed in any particular order, nor is this specifically endorsed by the WCDCC. This is simply common motions and phrasings that may help you better understand parliamentary procedure.

MOTION

PURPOSE

CONSIDERATIONS

Main Motions

Commits the group to action or a position

Interrupt Speaker

Second Required

Debate

Amend

Vote Required

Can be Reconsidered

Main Motion

To introduce business, Commits the group to action

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Majority

Yes

Rescind

Reverses a motion that has been adopted

No

Yes

Yes

No

Majority

No

Reconsider

Looks again at a motion that has failed

No

Yes

Yes

No

Majority

No

Take from the Table

Takes up item that has been laid on the table

No

Yes

No

No

Majority

No

Subsidiary Motions

Used to do something to a main motion

Interrupt Speaker

Second Required

Debate

Amend

Vote Required

Can be Reconsidered

Lay on the Table

Sets a motion aside until someone wants to bring it up again

No

Yes

No

No

Majority

No

Previous Question/Close Debate

Forces an immediate vote

No

Yes

No

No

2/3s vote

Yes

Limit or Extend Debate

Forces a time limit on debate

No

Yes

No

Yes

2/3s vote

Yes

Postpone to a certain time

Names a time when this will come up again

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Majority

Yes

Refer to a committee

Sets up a small group to study the issue

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Majority

Yes

Amend an amendment

To modify an amendment

No

Yes

Yes

No

Majority

Yes

Amend

To modify a motion

No

Yes

Yes

No

Majority

Yes

Postpone Indefinitely

Kills a motion

No

Yes

Yes

No

Majority

Yes

Privileged Motions

Deals with people’s concerns

Interrupt Speaker

Second Required

Debate

Amend

Vote Required

Can be Reconsidered

Fix time to adjourn

To ensure the meeting ends at a specific time

No

Yes

No

Yes

Majority

Yes

Adjourn

Ends meeting

No

Yes

No

No

Majority

No

Recess

Take a break

No

Yes

No

Yes

Majority

No

Question of Privilege

Makes a personal request

Yes

No

No

No

Decision of Chair

No

Call for Orders of the Day

To follow the agenda and deal with the issues the meeting planned to cover

Yes

No

No

No

No vote Demand

No

Incidental Motions

Deals with the way the meeting is run

Interrupt Speaker

Second Required

Debate

Amend

Vote Required

Can be Reconsidered

Appeal decision of chair

To reverse a decision of the chair

Yes

Yes

No

No

Majority

Yes

Call for Division of assembly

Force a counted vote

Yes

No

No

No

Majority

No

Call Division of Motion

Divides motion into the parts.

No

Yes

No

Yes

Majority

No

Object to Consideration

Stops a motion from being considered

Yes

No

No

No

2/3s vote

No

Point of Inquiry

A question about parliamentary procedure to Chair

Yes

No

No

No

Decision of Chair

No

Point of Order

To correct a parliamentary error

Yes

No

No

No

Decision of Chair

No

Suspend the Rules

To temporarily ignore a RONR or bylaws, standing rules to accomplish some task